The American League's Boston Red Sox, a team that had a 9-game lead for a wild-card spot early this month, lost to the Baltimore Orioles 4-3. And because the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 8-7 in 12 innings, it's the Rays who go to the post-season, not the Sox.

Meanwhile, in the National League the Atlanta Braves completed their own melt-down. The Braves lost 4-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies. And because the St. Louis Cardinals beat Houston 8-0, it's the Cardinals — not the Braves — who will be the wild-card team. Earlier this month, the Braves had an 8 1/2 game lead for the wild-card spot.

The Sox and Braves both collapsed "in a big, historic way," Tom told NPR's David Greene today on Morning Edition.

This morning's newspapers reflect the pain and triumph being felt in the teams' cities: